Several brothels once owned by the late Dennis Hof, including the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, are for sale for $33.9 million.
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Looking to own a historic slice of the world’s oldest known profession in Nevada?
Several properties once owned by the self-described “P.T. Barnum of the sex industry” are on the market for $33.9 million.
The portfolio of properties in Lyon County’s Mound House community south of Reno are forever tied to their previous owner, the late Dennis Hof, who shot to national infamy after buying the longtime Moonlite Bunny Ranch in 1992.
The Moonlite Bunny Ranch is one of several brothels included in the listing, alongside the Sagebrush Ranch and Love Ranch. The portfolio lists 11 parcels overall, including:
- Residential real estate
- Highway-frontage property
- Storage and warehouse facilities
- Development parcels
- Additional land holdings
Furniture, equipment, vehicles and inventory from the properties are included.
The buyer will also acquire legal and intellectual assets including trade names and branding, digital assets such as websites, marketing materials and related intellectual property.
Because the listing is considered a “confidential offering,” additional information such as financial disclosures and due diligence materials will only be provided to qualified buyers who sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Current ownership is also willing to help the buyer transition into operating the business, including providing support for training for a year after the sale.
Hof pushes Moonlite Bunny Ranch to national notoriety
The Moonlite Bunny Ranch traces its history to 1955, when it started as the Moonlight Ranch.
It wasn’t until Hof acquired the property, however, that it would shoot to the national spotlight.
A savvy marketer who operated his brothels as a modern business, Hof was unapologetic about being in the sex industry.
Hof titled his 2015 memoir “The Art of the Pimp,” a reference to now-President Donald Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal.” Hof, who liked to call himself “the Trump of Pahrump,” had former madam Heidi Fleiss write a testimonial on his book.
“There’s no business like ho business, and nobody knows the biz better than Hof,” Fleiss wrote.
Unlike typical brothel owners, Hof didn’t shy away from media coverage. Instead, he openly welcomed it. This was especially true when he got into the business in the early 1990s when the internet was just getting started and traditional media still reigned supreme.
“Back in those days (in the late 1990s), I relied on the media 100 percent,” Hof wrote in his memoir. “I couldn’t advertise, so I had to find ways to get myself noticed.”
One of the ways Hof got noticed was by doing interviews at every opportunity, including one with the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2015.
“Do I come up with gimmicks? I’m the P.T. Barnum of the sex industry,” Hof said at the time. “I’m always looking for a new angle and something funny to keep my name and the name of the Bunny Ranch in the national media.”
Hof got what was arguably his biggest break in 2005, when the Moonlite Bunny Ranch was featured in the HBO reality TV show “Cathouse: The Series.”
With the reality TV genre exploding thanks to shows such as “Survivor” and “Big Brother,” the HBO series gave Hof national notoriety.
“We had more than our share of unusual customers (on the HBO show),” Hof said.
Hof manages to win even in death
Not all the attention Hof received was positive for him, however.
In 2018, Hof was the subject of an investigation by the Nevada Department of Public Safety over alleged sexual assault. The allegations were made by former sex workers and covered a period from 2005 to 2011.
Prosecutors ultimately declined to press charges, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations.
On Oct. 16, 2018, Hof was found dead on his bed just hours after celebrating his 72nd birthday. An autopsy confirmed he died of a heart attack.
The bombastic personality still managed to get the last laugh, even in death.
Hof, who secured the Republican nomination for Pahrump’s state Assembly seat, posthumously won the election after building a sizable lead against his Democratic opponent.
The sale of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch and Hof’s former legacy properties is being represented by Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate.